Rajendra Senchurey is a peace policy expert from Nepal and belongs to the most-marginalized community of Nepal, called Dalit. He currently works with the Nepal government think-tank called "Policy Research Institute". He holds a MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin and has been a Fellow in organizations like UNESCO, Caux Scholars Program, ICNC, KAICIID, FK Norway, etc.
Shadi Malak is a highly motivated global citizen who believes in the power of volunteering, self-development, compassion, and leading by example to promote human dignity and create a more peaceful world for all living beings. For many years he worked with refugees in Egypt as a legal assistant and educator, and currently works for a programme that offers capacity-building training to refugees. He holds a Master's degree in International Law and has a background in youth empowerment, curriculum designing, and development.
2021 was a challenging year. It became clear that Covid-19 was not a flash in the pan – and that its economic, social and ecological effects would be devastating. Online communication facilitated connection across the world, but also increased propaganda bubbles and political polarization. As 2022 unfolds, democracy is under threat in many countries, war rages in Ukraine and elsewhere, food and energy prices are soaring. Meanwhile the climate crisis escalates.
Such windows of disruption are the moments when change is inevitable, and we must learn to adapt. Initiatives of Change Switzerland responded to the challenges of 2021 by bringing people together virtually both to honour the past and to chart new courses into the future.
This is a time for rebuilding, just as in 1946, when the Caux Palace opened its doors as a conference centre for change and reconciliation. We celebrated our 75th anniversary throughout the year, posting 75 stories of transformation on our website and hosting a kaleidoscope of arts events.
The Caux Forum 2021 took place largely online, with some hybrid events. It opened with a memorable panel on Swiss Perspectives on Peace: Past, Present and Future. The Creative Leadership conference led a global audience from ‘Uncertainty to Possibility’, the Caux Dialogue on Environment and Security forged networks for the future, and Initiatives of Change Business & Economy considering how ‘sustainable business needs purpose beyond profit’.
The Young Ambassadors Programme brought together more than 60 people from 24 countries. Kairi Kuusema from Estonia commented, ‘I attended YAP 2021 because I wanted to play an active role in transforming society and to explore the dynamic relationship between personal and global change. I was afraid that I would not be able to make a positive difference in my community, but I gained the confidence that anything in this world is possible.’
All our programmes emphasize the importance of listening, to others and to the inner voice. From this, hope can emerge. We believe that our work of building trust across the world’s divides is pivotal for a sustainable future.
Please find below a copy of our annual report where you can discover our latest news and view videos and reports of last year’s Caux Forum Online.
None of our work would be possible without the hard work of our conference and support teams and our volunteers and the generosity of our donors. Thanks to you we have been able to reach out to more people than ever this year. We rely heavily on individual donations, and every gift counts. To support our work, please consider donating here.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Yours,
Initiatives of Change Switzerland
In its current edition, the top real estate magazine in French-speaking Switzerland, immobilier.ch, showcases the Caux Palace as one of five positive examples of how historic buildings can be preserve...
When the first Ukrainians arrived at the Caux Refuge, Eliane and Andrew Stallybrass were amongst the first volunteers to welcome them at the Villa Maria and to offer their support. Eliane knew that le...
What happens when 26 IofC trainers and facilitators from 12 countries embark on a three-day learning journey in Caux on designing and facilitating participatory learning experiences? At the opening se...
We are back in town! With our representation office now located at "La Loge" in the Domaine La Pastorale in Geneva we look forward to reengage more significantly with International Geneva and offer a...
Sunday 19 June 2022 saw crowds of visitors and local people gathering in the park of the Caux Palace for the inauguration of a ‘Caux Belle Epoque’ self-guided walk. ...
Christine Beerli will step down as President of the Foundation of Initiatives of Change Switzerland in April 2022, after four years in the role. Jacqueline Coté, former Director of Public Relations at...
Former President of the Council of IofC Switzerland, Antoine Jaulmes, interviews Andrew Lancaster from Australia, who has just stepped down from the Council after 16 years....
Nick Foster, until now Caux Forum Director, will take over the role of Co-Director of IofC Switzerland, alongside Stephanie Buri. After nine years with Initiatives of Change (IofC) and one year as the...
Germany was in ruins. Europe was in ruins. Millions had been killed; millions more wounded and displaced. There were also ruins of the mind, deep collective trauma in desperate need of healing. In the...
‘At that time, even a dog would have refused a bit of bread from the hand of a German,’ remembered Peter Petersen, one of 150 Germans who the Allies allowed to come to Caux in 1947. They were some of ...
"Deep down inside, I blamed the rich, I held them responsible for so many people’s unhappiness. I couldn’t accept that some could have everything they wanted without having to lift a little finger, wh...
"My story is not special, or mine. It belongs to this conference centre. It is 75 years long and contains hundreds of thousands of train rides, walks, talks, teas, conversations, and quiet moments of ...
We are committed to inspire, equip and connect you to support you on your journey from personal to global change. But we need your help to see how we can do this best!...
Usually, Swiss National Day on 1 August is an opportunity for Caux Forum participants to discover some Swiss traditions, including cheese fondue. This year, it looked like the Caux Palace would be emp...
Kawser Amine is the founder and CEO of WSPL. She was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, and is a former member of the female Afghan national soccer team. Kawser earned a Bachelor's degree in General Management and specialized in International Relations at the Indian School of Business Management in New Delhi, India. She has worked with different parts of society as a young women leader and peace activist to improve the participation of women in leadership, governance, politics, peace processes and sports.
Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. is an enrolled member of the Ihanktonwan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations and is an internationally recognized leader in human, community and economic development. During the past 54 years, Chief Lane has worked with Indigenous Peoples from the Americas, Micronesia, South East Asia, China, India, Hawaii, and Africa.
Ejna Fleury is an enrolled member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, South Dakota, and is their first Tribal Peace Ambassador. She is a Mystic, Visionary & Ceremonialist. She is the co-founder of Healing Hearts at Wounded Knee and the Wounded Knee Global Ceremonies to heal the multi-generational and multi-lineal effects of massacre, holocaust, and war upon humanity, other species, and our beloved planetary home.
Visolela Rosalinda "Rosa" Namises is a social, gender equality and human rights activist and chief of the /Khomanin people in Namibia. She was a co-founder and director of Women’s Solidarity Namibia, a women’s organization combating gender-based violence in Namibia from 1989 – 2004. Visolela also served as a Member of Parliament from 1999-2005 and again in 2010.
Jake Jay-Lewin grew up in the Findhorn Ecovillage and Spiritual Community, Scotland, and has been active in the Ecovillage movement since 2013. He co-developped the youth-arm of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), NextGEN and was recently elected to GEN-Europe’s Council and Board of Trustees.
Sunday 19 June 2022 saw crowds of visitors and local people gathering in the park of the Caux Palace for the inauguration of a ‘Caux Belle Epoque’ self-guided walk.
Some 150 people heard Olivier Gfeller, the Mayor of Montreux, officially open the nine information stands. These carry texts and photos in three languages, with QR codes leading to an audio-guide with further information, texts, photos and film clips.
The tour starts at Caux station, with the construction of the railway line, and continues with the Caux Palace and its clientele, the chapels and restaurants of the village, winter sports (bobsleigh, curling, skiing and skating), the Grand Hotel (where the Empress Sissi of Austria stayed), and ends in Haut-de-Caux, just above the Caux Palace.
The Belle Epoque, from the start of the 20th century up to the outbreak of the First World War, was the hamlet’s most glorious period, when it attracted a world elite and many of those days' rich and famous.
Many of the villagers manning the food stand and offering guided tours were in period costume, and, after the official speeches, a local group offered period dances and music, also in costume. Some 60 people took the opportunity to join guided tours of the period’s two most important constructions: the Caux Palace and the Grand Hotel. The day ended with a performance of Brahms’ ‘Ein Deutsches Requiem’ in the Caux Palace’s theatre as part of the Caux Musical Season.
The day marked a further strengthening of the sense of shared purpose and destiny between the local community and political authorities and IofC Switzerland, who have owned the Caux Palace since 1946, when they saved it from demolition by turning it into a conference centre.
In its current edition, the top real estate magazine in French-speaking Switzerland, immobilier.ch, showcases the Caux Palace as one of five positive examples of how historic buildings can be preserve...
When the first Ukrainians arrived at the Caux Refuge, Eliane and Andrew Stallybrass were amongst the first volunteers to welcome them at the Villa Maria and to offer their support. Eliane knew that le...
What happens when 26 IofC trainers and facilitators from 12 countries embark on a three-day learning journey in Caux on designing and facilitating participatory learning experiences? At the opening se...
We are back in town! With our representation office now located at "La Loge" in the Domaine La Pastorale in Geneva we look forward to reengage more significantly with International Geneva and offer a...
We are happy to present our Annual Report 2021, covering all of last year's activities and the celebrations of 75 Years of Encounters!...
Christine Beerli will step down as President of the Foundation of Initiatives of Change Switzerland in April 2022, after four years in the role. Jacqueline Coté, former Director of Public Relations at...
Former President of the Council of IofC Switzerland, Antoine Jaulmes, interviews Andrew Lancaster from Australia, who has just stepped down from the Council after 16 years....
Nick Foster, until now Caux Forum Director, will take over the role of Co-Director of IofC Switzerland, alongside Stephanie Buri. After nine years with Initiatives of Change (IofC) and one year as the...
Germany was in ruins. Europe was in ruins. Millions had been killed; millions more wounded and displaced. There were also ruins of the mind, deep collective trauma in desperate need of healing. In the...
‘At that time, even a dog would have refused a bit of bread from the hand of a German,’ remembered Peter Petersen, one of 150 Germans who the Allies allowed to come to Caux in 1947. They were some of ...
"Deep down inside, I blamed the rich, I held them responsible for so many people’s unhappiness. I couldn’t accept that some could have everything they wanted without having to lift a little finger, wh...
"My story is not special, or mine. It belongs to this conference centre. It is 75 years long and contains hundreds of thousands of train rides, walks, talks, teas, conversations, and quiet moments of ...
We are committed to inspire, equip and connect you to support you on your journey from personal to global change. But we need your help to see how we can do this best!...
Usually, Swiss National Day on 1 August is an opportunity for Caux Forum participants to discover some Swiss traditions, including cheese fondue. This year, it looked like the Caux Palace would be emp...
